The Magazine for Blind and Partially Sighted Young People in Scotland

Haggazine

The magazine for blind and partially sighted young people in Scotland

Issue 13

Technology

Autumn 2016

Section 1: Editorial.

Section 2: Joe Chalmers interview.

Section 3: Techshare Europe 2016.

Section 4: Did You Know?: Google Self-Driving Car Project.

Section 5: Did You Know?: Online Today.

Section 6: Did you know?: Technology Support Squad.

Section 7: Danielle Cox: Finding freedom in technology.

Section 8: Contact us.

Section 1: Editorial

Unless you live on a desert island it's difficult to escape technology in the world today. There's the smart phones we use without thinking and even almost unimaginable things like driverless cars!

With this issue we come to you a bit earlier to coincide with TechShare 2016. As well as to keep you in the know with all things techy.

Haggazine has also made some exciting changes recently. We now have a dedicated Media Team who will be researching, interviewing and writing content for the magazine and our web pages as well as Facebook posts. Busy folk! However, that's not all. We are in the very early stages of developing a radio show specifically for young people living with sight loss so stay tuned (pun intended!) for details of when we'll be coming at you over the air waves.

In order for this to all run as smoothly as possible, I will now be the sole editor for Haggazine, gathering all our contributors' work together so it can make its way to you! Jill along with Eilidh and Elizabeth, is now leading on our mag for the wee ones - Haggeye Jnr and Friends - whilst Matthew is dedicating his time to being our man on a mission for all things policy by representing Haggeye on RNIB Scotland's Committee.

We'll introduce you to the other Media Team Members in coming issues of Haggazine so you'll get to know more about them soon.

I hope you enjoy this issue and everything we have coming up in the future!

Tuesday

Section 2: Joe Chalmers interview

What is your name?

Joe Chalmers

How old are you?

13 years old

Where are you from?

Larbert, Falkirk

What year are you in at school?

I'm in 3rd year at Larbert high school

What is your sight loss condition?

I have Oculocultaneous albinism and Nystagmus. I am also registered partially sighted.

What pieces of technology do you use in daily life and work?

At home I always use my iPad, I like it because it is very easy to use. At school I use a laptop for doing all my work, which is great.

How do you use technology and what do you use it for?

I love technology, all types, from my kindle, computer, iPod, iPad; even when I do my DJing I use technology. I haven't tried any assistive technology yet, but I have heard about software that you can have on your laptop.

Tell us a bit about your hobbies.

My favourite hobby is music. My friend Struan and I are DJs in the local area. We are called Young Falkirk DJs. We have done 11 parties so far including my Dad's 50th with over 70 people attending. We are getting bookings now from people outside our families, which is great as it means our name is getting known. We play all genres of music depending on what the person who is having the party likes. I love cycling too and recently just got a new bike. I also enjoy golf and swimming.

What new and/or innovative technology have you found or are looking forward to coming soon and getting your hands on?

I watch out for new Apple products. They are my favourite and so easy to use.

Section 3: Techshare Europe 2016

TechShare is an international programme of accessibility conferences run by RNIB Solutions and partners, with events taking place across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

Since its inception in 2000, TechShare has grown to become a key event in the calendar of many multi-national tech corporations, public policy makers, product designers and accessibility entrepreneurs. The events now enjoy global and continental sponsorship from a host of iconicbrands including Google, Microsoft, BTI Studios and O2.

Each unique TechShare conference brings together key innovators and thought leaders from the world of consumer technologies. Events comprise a dynamic blend of presentations, plenary sessions and an integrated marketplace, showcasing the latest innovations in accessible mainstream technologies and the Internet of Things.

Partnership is at the heart of TechShare, with the overall aim being to create sustainable mainstream technology initiatives which facilitate accessibility. From small start-ups through to major corporations, TechShare provides a valuable platform for innovating, partnering and ultimately delivering accessibility solutions to businesses and consumers alike.

TechShare has grown from being a blindness and low vision focused entity to one which fully embraces the pan disability agenda and the economics of the consumer electronic industry. This broad focus enables the development of a much wider range of collaborative opportunities and strengthens RNIB's commercial offer.

For more information, presentations and papers from previous conferences and dates for future events, contact:

Section 4: Did you know?: Google Self-Driving Car Project

Google are building prototype vehicles that are designed to take you where you want to go at the push of a button - no driving required.

The cars have been taught to navigate through many complicated scenarios on city streets and have sensors designed to detect objects as far as two football fields away in all directions. These sensors will recognise things like pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

Software processes all the information to help the car safely navigate the road without getting tired or distracted.

For more info visit google.com/selfdrivingcar

Section 5: Did you know?: Online Today

Technology can make life easier when you have sight or hearing problems, but knowing where to start isn't always easy.

RNIB are helping people with sensory loss gain the basic skills and confidence to use technology and get online.

They are doing this by providing support in lots of ways, from home visits to one to one and group sessions, nationwide workshops and events. After talking through your needs, the Online Today team will be on hand to give you tailored support and advice, which could include showing you how to use yourtabletore-readersuch as an iPad and Kindle, helping you tochat onlineusing Skype, and opportunities to try out some of these products and find out what suits you best.

For more info email

Section 6: Did you know?: Technology Support Squad

We've all been there, you've returned home excited about trying your new device or service, and it doesn't seem to work as you expected. Don't worry, we have a dedicated team that can help you.

RNIB's Technology Support Squad (TSS)is a free national service that can set up, fix issues with, and help you use your device.

Get in touch for help with:

· syncing up your mobile with your laptop

· setting up audio description on your TV

· choosing and using apps

· troubleshooting and fixing techy problems

· installing software such as Microsoft Office or JAWS

For more info email

Section 7: Danielle Cox: Finding freedom in technology

Danielle is a 20 year old psychology student at the University of Glasgow and is about to spend a year studying abroad in the United States. She tells Haggeye how technology was once untrustworthy, but has become liberating to her, all since being diagnosed with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy when aged ten. This is a progressive condition similar to Age-related Macular Degeneration, where central vision is gradually lost. Danielle tells us more.

I have never got into the habit of using specialist technology. It was so hard to accept one day being told glasses would help me see the board in class, and the next that I had a disability, was different and needed support. Through most of school I just powered through, writing everything. I never found comfort or trust in the support, or specialist technology, being offered, and became a wee bit rebellious as a result. It felt more hindrance than help.

During secondary school, I eventually accepted a magnifier sitting on my desk to help with reading as my sight deteriorated. In S5 I finally tried a laptop with ZoomText. This was only for exams, so I didn’t feel different as it wasn’t when my friends were with me. But for the first time I could actually read what I had written.

By the time I started university I had got an iPhone. What I loved then, and still do now with the bigger screen of a new iPhone 6S Plus, is owning the same phone as friends, being free to do the same things they do, and not just the basics as before. I invert colours to read and write messages, use magnification to control the flash and filters of pictures I take to capture memories with friends and family, and can share this all on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. The speak selected text feature helps me read long emails. The camera app you can open from the lock screen is now the only magnifier I need!

When starting university I was more open to using a laptop too. Laptops are a norm at university, rather than being a sign of being different like at school. But inexperience of using laptops and ZoomText from school day to day, and how often this equipment provided by Disabled Students’ Allowances broke down on me, made the whole experience and my first year difficult. It took so much fun out of being a fresher.

That year at university taught me what wasn’t working and what I needed. It clicked when my aunt and uncle bought an iMac, then showed me how accessibility worked just as well and the same on the computer as on my iPhone. I found myself coming round to their house to work and revise for exams more and more. The Mac just worked, and let me do my work, rather than worry about how I was going to do my work. So I decided to save up for one, and being lovely family who knew what it meant, they offered to buy it for me!

Other technologies that are so seamlessly accessible to me are the new contactless payment card terminals, which mean I don’t have to struggle finding where to put my card into a machine with periphery vision. In America, spoken turn-by-turn directions from my phone are going to be so helpful when my eyes need to be looking at the new streets and places.

Sounds cringey, but finding all these technologies has been life changing. No more do I feel different, I trust these bits of tech, and they give me control. I am assisted to progress, so disability cannot hinder my progress.

Section 8: Contact Us

This magazine has been created, developed and written by young people from the Haggeye project and produced by RNIB.

Facebook: facebook.com/haggeye

Email:

Telephone: 0131 652 3140

RNIB registered charity number SC039316